student loans.
The next day at work, I got
a call from Annie. I had debated about even answering the call, but
figured it could be important. She told me that Judge Mathis had
requested to see me and James regarding the divorce proceedings. My
heart dropped like a brick as I took down the address and meeting
time for the next day. We’d had the papers drawn up weeks ago, or
so I thought, and I had no idea what to expect next. Annie warned
me that we likely wouldn’t be approved for an annulment. Whatever
happened, I just wanted it over with.
The next day as I walked
into Judge Mathis’ office, my senses were on high alert. I was
waiting in his office, alone. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve expected
James or not. The door opened and I turned and recognized the judge
who had married James and me on that winter night a few months
prior.
“ Cassidy, pleasure to see
you again. Though, I wish it was on better circumstances.” We shook
hands and he kissed my cheek before taking his seat behind his
desk. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“ No, thank you. I’m all
set.” I was gripping my hands together, trying to diffuse my
nerves.
He leaned back in his chair
and just stared at me. I was becoming uncomfortable when he finally
spoke. “You two seemed so in love.”
His statement caught me off
guard. “Well, sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“ So you still love
him?”
For whatever reason, I
didn’t feel like hiding anything from him. What did it matter?
“I’ll probably always love him. I believed whole heartedly when I
said my vows that he was it for me.”
“ So what changed?” I just
stared at him. “I’ll be candid. Sources tell me that you’re
pregnant.” The expression on my face must have alarmed him. He sat
up quickly, from his laid back position and clarified, “Your secret
is safe, but it’s a big decision bringing a baby into the
world.”
“ There is no baby, not
anymore.”
“ Hmm, I see.”
“ I lost the baby, I didn’t
abort it, if that’s what you think.”
“ Sorry, I didn’t mean to
presume.”
“ I was ecstatic when I
found out we were going to have a baby. Our relationship was the
only problem, or lack thereof.”
“ Well, I can’t grant you
an annulment. You’ll have to go through the six month separation
period before it’s official. At that time, if you still wish to be
divorced then I’ll make the process as quick and smooth for you as
possible.”
I’m not sure what I was
expecting. Six more months of being MRSJB3 wasn’t really what I had
in mind, but there was no getting around it. “Thank
you.”
He shuffled through some
papers and placed them in front of me. “I just need you to sign
here and here.” I signed my name, Cassidy Benedict, and scoffed
when I realized I’d never even had my driver’s license changed
over. “Something funny, dear?”
“ No. Sad really. In all
the commotion of the last few months I never changed my name on my
driver’s license. Guess it never really mattered.”
He walked around the desk
and clasped my hands in his. “It matters dear. If you want my
opinion, that boy is a fool. He didn’t have a ring for you that day
either. That was his first mistake.”
My throat tightened at his
kind words as I feigned a smile. “He’s a good person. The
circumstances were just wrong. Our timing has always been a little
off.”
“ Well, I’ll let you get
back to your day. You can finalize in November, but I hope you two
can work it out.”
“ Thank…” The door opened
at that moment and James came walking in.
“ James, I was just telling
this lovely creature that I hope you two work it out.” I was
mortified and couldn’t look to either of them.
I reached for my purse and
made my exit. “Cassidy, wait.” I continued down the hall and away
from prying eyes and ears before he stopped me. “Cassidy, please
talk to me.”
I turned to look at him,
mascara running, with no words to throw at him. “What
The next day at work, I got
a call from Annie. I had debated about even answering the call, but
figured it could be important. She told me that Judge Mathis had
requested to see me and James regarding the divorce proceedings. My
heart dropped like a brick as I took down the address and meeting
time for the next day. We’d had the papers drawn up weeks ago, or
so I thought, and I had no idea what to expect next. Annie warned
me that we likely wouldn’t be approved for an annulment. Whatever
happened, I just wanted it over with.
The next day as I walked
into Judge Mathis’ office, my senses were on high alert. I was
waiting in his office, alone. I wasn’t sure if I should’ve expected
James or not. The door opened and I turned and recognized the judge
who had married James and me on that winter night a few months
prior.
“ Cassidy, pleasure to see
you again. Though, I wish it was on better circumstances.” We shook
hands and he kissed my cheek before taking his seat behind his
desk. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“ No, thank you. I’m all
set.” I was gripping my hands together, trying to diffuse my
nerves.
He leaned back in his chair
and just stared at me. I was becoming uncomfortable when he finally
spoke. “You two seemed so in love.”
His statement caught me off
guard. “Well, sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“ So you still love
him?”
For whatever reason, I
didn’t feel like hiding anything from him. What did it matter?
“I’ll probably always love him. I believed whole heartedly when I
said my vows that he was it for me.”
“ So what changed?” I just
stared at him. “I’ll be candid. Sources tell me that you’re
pregnant.” The expression on my face must have alarmed him. He sat
up quickly, from his laid back position and clarified, “Your secret
is safe, but it’s a big decision bringing a baby into the
world.”
“ There is no baby, not
anymore.”
“ Hmm, I see.”
“ I lost the baby, I didn’t
abort it, if that’s what you think.”
“ Sorry, I didn’t mean to
presume.”
“ I was ecstatic when I
found out we were going to have a baby. Our relationship was the
only problem, or lack thereof.”
“ Well, I can’t grant you
an annulment. You’ll have to go through the six month separation
period before it’s official. At that time, if you still wish to be
divorced then I’ll make the process as quick and smooth for you as
possible.”
I’m not sure what I was
expecting. Six more months of being MRSJB3 wasn’t really what I had
in mind, but there was no getting around it. “Thank
you.”
He shuffled through some
papers and placed them in front of me. “I just need you to sign
here and here.” I signed my name, Cassidy Benedict, and scoffed
when I realized I’d never even had my driver’s license changed
over. “Something funny, dear?”
“ No. Sad really. In all
the commotion of the last few months I never changed my name on my
driver’s license. Guess it never really mattered.”
He walked around the desk
and clasped my hands in his. “It matters dear. If you want my
opinion, that boy is a fool. He didn’t have a ring for you that day
either. That was his first mistake.”
My throat tightened at his
kind words as I feigned a smile. “He’s a good person. The
circumstances were just wrong. Our timing has always been a little
off.”
“ Well, I’ll let you get
back to your day. You can finalize in November, but I hope you two
can work it out.”
“ Thank…” The door opened
at that moment and James came walking in.
“ James, I was just telling
this lovely creature that I hope you two work it out.” I was
mortified and couldn’t look to either of them.
I reached for my purse and
made my exit. “Cassidy, wait.” I continued down the hall and away
from prying eyes and ears before he stopped me. “Cassidy, please
talk to me.”
I turned to look at him,
mascara running, with no words to throw at him. “What
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